By Ian Neubauer

An executive from the hospitality industry has been named the Australian winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award 2009 — an accolade presented in 17 countries annually to honour exceptional women in business.

Stedmans Hospitality CEO Mandy Foley-Quin received the award yesterday (Mar 11) at a formal lunch attended by NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, and more than 100 of Australia’s most powerful and successful business leaders. 

Co-founded by Foley-Quin in 1985, Stedmans is a staffing agency built around the idea of a one-stop shop assuming all responsibility for staff, superannuation and payroll for hospitality personnel on behalf of its clients.

It revolutionised the hospitality industry and is now the model for many other similar businesses, employing more than 1500 people.
 

NSW Governor Marie Bashir (left) shares a drop with
award-winner Mandy Foley-Quin (right) 

Janet Holmes à Court, a previous winner of the Award and a member of the Australian judging panel, said Foley-Quin is an outstanding winner.

“Madame Clicquot’s courage and fortitude, her pursuit of excellence and innovation even when faced with immense challenges are a powerful inspiration for us in 2009, as we deal with the global financial crisis,” she said. referring to Madame Clicquot, one of the world’s first woman entrepreneurs.

“The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award recognises and celebrates these qualities, and Mandy possesses them in abundance.”

 As Australian winner of award, Foley-Quin will fly to Reims, France, in October to join past and present laureates from other countries at the Annual Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen’s Meeting, where a vine will be christened in her name.  She will also receive a bottle of La Grande Dame champagne every year on Madame Clicquot’s birthday.